Air Lead Exposures and Blood Lead Levels within a Large Automobile Manufacturing Workforce, 1980–1985

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Recent (1980–1985) trends in air lead (PbA) exposures and blood lead (PbB) levels experienced by approximately 10 000 workers employed in various stages of the automobile manufacturing process (i.e., auto assembly, lead-acid battery manufacture, foundry work, and “other” manufacturing-related operations) are described. Between 1980–1985, the mean PbB levels of assembly, battery, foundry, and “other” workers decreased by 28, 24, 3, and 27%, respectively, to 16.6, 23.6, 15.9, and 11.8 μg Pb/dl. Workers in the following job categories experienced the highest annual mean PbB levels: paste machine operators (battery plants), solder-grinders (assembly plants), and crane operators (foundries). During the same period, median 8-h Time Weighted Average PbA exposures (μg Pb/m3) in assembly plants, battery plants, and foundries decreased by 10, 12, and 20%, respectively, to 8.1, 13.6, and 10.9 μg/m3.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: